The World’s Most Incredible and Surprising Islands: Part 1

Usedom, an Island of ‘Singing’ Sand

Germans are well-known for their perfectionism and obsession with everything being made to the highest standards. Their beaches and islands are not an exception. Searching for the perfect getaway, they tend to travel all over the world, forgetting that their own country has a perfect beach in a remote hideaway by the Baltic Sea. This European paradise is called Usedom, but is widely known as “Singing Island”. Its gorgeous sand is so fine that it squeals when you walk on it. This peaceful white-sand seaside is two and a half hours from Berlin.

With landscaped verdant promenades, sparkling beaches, royal history and multiple spas, Usedom has become a true tourist magnet in recent years, which is wonderful, as the idea of walking on a beach with “singing sand” is extremely fascinating.

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

Palm Jumeirah are three artificial islands, Palm Jumeirah, Deira Island and Palm Jebel Ali, which are located in the territory of the United Arab Emirates. The islands were built beginning in June 2001, and now Palm Island is one of the most exciting artificial islands in the world, as it is made in the shape of a palm. This island has a tree trunk and a crown with 16 fronds. The island’s surface is five kilometers by five kilometers. Adding 78 kilometers to the Dubai coastline, this island looks incredible from overhead. The construction of Palm Jebel Ali started in October 2002 and was intended to finish in 2015.

Palm Jumeirah was constructed totally from sand and rocks (interestingly, concrete and steel were not used to make the island, which is incredible). The Palm Jumeirah is a project of the Prince of Dubai, as it was his idea and design.

La Isla de la Muñecas, Mexico (Island of the Dolls)

Located south of Mexico City, this island wasn’t a major tourist destination, and it would never have become one but for one unexpected event. Over fifty years ago, Don Julian Santana left his wife and child and decided to live alone on the island on Teshuilo Lake in the Xochimilco canals. He once wasn’t able to save a young girl he saw drowning in the lake, and, feeling guilty, he put her doll on a tree to pay his respects for this girl. Some say the girl didn’t exist, and others insist that Don Julian Santana just imagined her in order to not feel lonely. In any case, since then, the island has become known as Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls).

After the death of Don Julian Santana the island became extremely popular among tourists, who found hundreds of dolls on trees throughout the island. Many visitors come here with new dolls, though the old ones can look extremely terrifying, especially in the dark.